Werribee Open Range Zoo recycled water pipeline
On this page
The new recycled water pipeline provides the zoo with class A recycled water that will be used for the new elephant and existing hippopotamus habitats and for irrigation of zoo’s grounds.
Project overview
The new Werribee Open Range Zoo recycled water pipeline provides the zoo with class A recycled water that will be used for the new elephant and existing hippopotamus habitats and for irrigation all around the zoo’s grounds.
The project supports the long-term resilience of Victoria’s waterways by reducing the water we take from the Werribee river and provides an alternative use for wastewater.
We installed a 2.5km pipeline, that runs from the Werribee Recycled Water Treatment Plant, underneath the Werribee River and the Western Trunk Sewer and connects to the zoo's infrastructure.
The pipeline will deliver around 150 million litres of recycled water per year, with the potential to expand up to 400 million litres as the zoo grows.
Construction started in 2022, and the new elephant habitat opened in March 2025.
Why the project was needed
The new pipeline provides an alternative use for wastewater and supports the Werribee Open Range Zoo expansion project.
In the future the pipeline will continue to support the expansion of recycled water in the Werribee Catchment.
A view of part of the new elephant enclosure.
Environmental care, community and cultural heritage
We’re committed to caring for the environment, cultural heritage and local communities. During this project we:
- collaborated with key stakeholders throughout our consultation process to understand their needs and aligned these with our work programs and outcomes.
- worked with EPA to ensure environmental compliance.
- ensured respect for First Nations heritage through cultural heritage management planning and consultation since November 2020
- used techniques and machinery to reduce impacts for the local community and environmental, specifically micro tunnel boring underneath the Werribee River and the Western Trunk Sewer.
A cross section of the ground with earth removed showing the large dark-coloured pipes that will carry the recycled water.
Thanks to Zoos Victoria for providing the photographs used on this page.
